Our holdings include hundreds of glass and film negatives/transparencies that we've scanned ourselves; in addition, many other photos on this site were extracted from reference images (high-resolution tiffs) in the Library of Congress research archive. (To query the database click here.) They are adjusted, restored and reworked by your webmaster in accordance with his aesthetic sensibilities before being downsized and turned into the jpegs you see here. All of these images (including "derivative works") are protected by copyright laws of the United States and other jurisdictions and may not be sold, reproduced or otherwise used for commercial purposes without permission.

November 1, 1952. "Chicago framed by Gothic stonework high in the Tribune Tower. This view of Chicago's downtown shows the low-lying smog which blanketed the area one recent morning. In the foreground is the well-known Wrigley Building." Underwood & Underwood photo. View full size.

Circa 1930. "Vice President Curtis at Capitol with steam car." Which, as evidenced by the news item below, encountered a bit of trouble during its stop in Washington. National Photo Co. Collection glass negative. View full size.

Auto Locomotive Leads to Arrest

Man to Be Tried for Using Car
For Advertising Railroad.

The Washington Post -- May 17, 1930

Albert E. Lentz, of 501 Twelfth street northwest, will be tried in Police Court next Thursday on charges of using a motor vehicle for advertising purposes and of driving an automobile with view obstructed.
The latter charge was placed against the man after traffic officials had inspected the vehicle, a locomotive on an automobile chassis, at the Traffic Bureau. The vehicle, which is used to advertise the Norfolk & Western Railway and the Grand Caverns of the Shenandoah Valley, was driven to the Police Court Building and was inspected by Judge Isaac R. Hitt before the case was continued.
Lentz was arrested yesterday morning on Madison Place Northwest by Sergt. Milton D. Smith and Policeman J.R. LeFoe, both of the Traffic Bureau.

The Plexiglas Pontiac Deluxe Six "Ghost Car," which sold at auction a few years ago for $308,000. (Another shot here.)

June 11, 1940. "General Motors exhibit at Golden Gate International Exposition, San Francisco. Transparent Car with Pontiac Chassis and Body by Fisher." And what a body it is! 8x10 inch Agfa acetate negative. View full size.

October 3, 1938. "Meeting of Pontiac salesmen at Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco." Representing all the many tribes of the great Pontiac Nation. 8x10 acetate negative, originally from the Wyland Stanley collection. View full size.

Shorpy.com | History in HD is a vintage photo blog featuring thousands of high-definition images from the 1850s to 1950s. The site is named after Shorpy Higginbotham, a teenage coal miner who lived 100 years ago.